Thrift Shop Shelf Makeover
Before school ended I found this shelf at a local thrift shop and thought it would be fun to give it a makeover. This ended up being an easy but time consuming project.
I started by sanding and cleaning the piece thoroughly. The holes on the front were filled with wood filler and then sanded smooth.
I knew that I wanted to paint this with a light paint color and worried about the brown stain bleeding through the light paint, so to prevent this, I coated the piece with polyurethane and let it dry before I started to paint. It was painted with Ivory Lace paint from The Plaster Paint Company followed by waxing with Lime Wax in White Chalk from Maison Blanche.
I pulled out some of my favorite vintage things to use with this shelf. The canister was one of my grandmother’s wedding shower presents and the Czechoslovakian pitcher was also my grandmother’s. Mama found the Lynchburg Standard Mason Jar and knew that it was a must have for me since that’s where I live. I’ve never seen another like it.
The edges of the shelf were distressed to give it a worn look.
I’ve had the Cat Studio Virginia Tea Towel (Affiliate Link) for many years. It usually hangs from the stove in my kitchen. I switched up the display here with a Knowles Utility Ware pie plate that I purchased in an antiques shop in Vermont.
As much as I’d like to keep this, I have no place for it and it will be for sale on July 16 at Picket Fenches Vintage and Antique Pop Up Sale at Millstone Mercantile in Madison Heights. If you are local, we’ll be open from 8 am until 3 pm.
I’d love it if you’d pin this project so that others can discover it.
Here are a few more thrift shop makeovers that you may enjoy reading about.
Very cute shelf and good staging, too! Love the vintage items.
Well done! I lke the towel and the way it hangs from the shelf’s bar.
Thank you!
Paula
Love the vintage items on display. Your grandmother’s canister is adorable.
Thank you, Carol. I’m so lucky to have so many of my grandmother’s things to enjoy.
Paula
Nice refresh Paula and I’m sure it’ll sell quickly for you. Love your nostalgic pieces you staged it with. How neat to still have something your grandmother received at her bridal shower!
My grandmother passed along so much to me, Marie. I love using her things.
Paula
I didn’t know you could paint over polyurethane. Good to know. I looked at your link for the towel. The new one doesn’t appear to show VT like yours does. Well!
Good luck with your sale. That shelf looks great.
Thank you! I really hope not to bring a lot of my things home with me. How dare that company leave VT off of their latest towel? The nerve!
Paula
Wow! This shelf looks like a whole different shelf! The white with the just right amount of distressing is perfect! I love it! I can’t wait to hear how your sale goes too!
Thanks, Megan! I hope that I sell a lot so that I don’t have to bring it home with me!
Paula
That’s a nice floating shelf actually. Floating shelves save space and add to aesthetics alike. I have tried corner floating shelves before but not this kind. I will definitely make one of this kind.
Such a beautiful refresh! It is so bright, with just the right amount of distressing and looks wonderful displaying your grandmother’s canister! I am sure that it will sell quickly!
Thank you, Lynne!